The Ultimate Diabetes and Smoking Quiz

It's no big surprise, you've heard it all before: Smoking is not good for your health. It causes a vast array of health complications and places you at risk for a variety of different cancers. Add diabetes to the equation and health complications pile up. Take this quiz and learn why, once and for all, smoking is so disastrous for your health.

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Question 1 of 20

What complications can result from smoking if you have diabetes?

heart disease

blood vessel disease

both of the above

Smoking leads to a variety of health consequences, most notably cancer. People who smoke and have diabetes, however, are at increased risk of also developing blood vessel disease and heart disease.

Question 2 of 20

How does smoking place you at increased risk of a heart attack?

Smoking decreases the oxygen to bodily tissues.

Smoking sucks the oxygen away from bodily tissues, which can lead to a heart attack, stroke, miscarriage or stillbirth.

Smoking can cause heart valve problems.

both of the above

Question 3 of 20

How does smoking place you at increased risk for blood vessel disease?

Smoking damages blood vessels.

Smoking constricts blood vessels.

both of the above

The constriction and damage of blood vessels from smoking can lead to diabetes related foot problems.

Question 4 of 20

People with diabetes who smoke are ____ times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than people with diabetes who don't smoke.

three

You are already at increased risk for cardiovascular disease if you have diabetes. You further increase your risk if you also smoke. Having diabetes and smoking means you are three times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease.

four

five

Question 5 of 20

What are smoking withdrawal symptoms?

sweating, headaches and dizziness

fatigue, constipation and irritability

both of the above

One of the hardest parts of quitting smoking is getting through the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms include: sweating, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, constipation and irritability.

Question 6 of 20

When do withdrawal symptoms peek in intensity?

after 12 hours

after two days

Withdrawal symptoms tend to peek around the second day of quitting smoking and lessen afterward. This doesn't mean, however, it's smooth sailing after this point!

after one week

Question 7 of 20

What are the positive effects of smoking?

decreases anxiety

suppresses hunger

both of the above

The positive effects of smoking include: decreasing anxiety or stress, suppressing hunger, and perking you up. These positive effects can be felt as quick as a few seconds after your first inhale of a cigarette.

Question 8 of 20

What is the first thing you should do when you decide to quit smoking?

Study your smoking habits.

It's best to develop a better understanding of why you smoke in the first place and to develop healthier coping strategies. Perhaps smoking helps you relax, so try doing deep breathing exercises instead.

Tell all your friends and family.

Buy nicotine gum.

Question 9 of 20

Nicotine replacement therapy helps with:

physical addiction

Nicotine replacement therapy, such as nicotine gum, can help alleviate the withdrawal symptoms associated with cigarette addiction.

psychological addiction

both of the above

Question 10 of 20

Who is most likely to benefit from nicotine replacement therapy?

Someone who smokes 20 or more cigarettes a day.

Someone who smokes first thing in the morning.

either of the above

Nicotine replacement therapy tends to work best for people who have a strong nicotine addiction. People who smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day, people who have their first cigarette within 30 minutes of getting up, and those who experience strong withdrawal symptoms are most likely to benefit from nicotine replacement therapy.

Question 11 of 20

Why are nicotine patches not appropriate for people with diabetes?

It interferes with insulin shots and diabetes medication.

It increases blood glucose levels.

Consult your doctor before deciding to try an over-the-counter nicotine patch. A nicotine patch can raise your blood glucose level if you have diabetes.

both of the above

Question 12 of 20

What resources are available if you want to quit smoking?

support groups

self-help manuals

both of the above

The American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society or your health care provider may run support groups in your area for quitting smoking. The American Heart Association and the American Lung Association also have free self-help manuals for quitting smoking.

Question 13 of 20

What alternative method may help you quit smoking?

hypnosis

acupuncture

both of the above

Hypnosis can help you with avoiding the things that trigger you to smoke. Acupuncture can help you stop the craving to smoke in about seven sessions.

Question 14 of 20

Most people who try to quit smoking relapse within the first:

month

three months

The first three months are the most difficult for quitting smoking. Your physical addiction is actually easier to overcome compared to your psychological addiction, which can drag on for quite some time.

year

Question 15 of 20

How much weight will you likely gain once you quit smoking?

5 to 10 pounds

On average, people gain seven pounds when they quit smoking. You will likely gain weight, because you metabolism returns to normal when you quit smoking.

10 to 15 pounds

15 to 20 pounds

Question 16 of 20

How many smoking-related deaths occur each year in the United States?

50,000 deaths

100,000 deaths

200,000 deaths

A staggering one out of five Americans, or 200,000 people, dies each year from smoking-related causes, such as lung cancer.

Question 17 of 20

If you have diabetes and you smoke, you are at increased risk of:

foot or leg amputation

kidney disease

both of the above

Smoking has serious health complications for people with diabetes, including increase risk of foot or leg amputation, kidney disease and nerve damage.

Question 18 of 20

Smoking increases your risk of what type of cancer?

mouth, throat and lung cancer

bladder, kidney and stomach cancer

both of the above

Smoking places you at risk for a variety of different forms of cancer, including mouth, tongue and throat cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer and stomach cancer.

Question 19 of 20

Smoking _____ your risk of having a stroke.

doubles

Diabetes already places you at risk of having a stroke. Smoking can add to that risk by doubling your chances of having a stroke.

triples

quadruples

Question 20 of 20

Smoking can greatly decrease your quality of life because:

It decreases your joint mobility.

It increases the likelihood of getting sick with colds and infections.

both of the above

As a smoker, you may have decreased mobility, which results in difficult with running after your kids, playing in a sport, or going on a nice long walk. You may also experience more colds and infections. All of these factors contribute to a diminished quality of life.